Gaddafi forces take back Ben Jawad

Libyan opposition forces have been forced to withdraw from Ben Jawad in the east of the country after clashes with embattled ruler Muammar Gaddafi forces.Anti-government returning from the front after clashing with regime loyalists said they had pulled back from the oil town Ben Jawad, where at least two people were killed and more than 30 others wounded, AFP reported Sunday.

Earlier clashes between Libyan protesters and forces loyal to Gaddafi in the city left 11 people, including a French photographer, wounded.

Meanwhile, witnesses said Gaddafi tanks shell the center of Libya's third city of Misratah on the latest crackdown on anti-government protesters.

Huge blasts and anti-air craft fire were also heard in the oil town of Ras Lanuf which has been the scene of clashes between anti-government forces and Gaddafi loyalists.

Opposition forces reported earlier that they have downed two aircraft belonging to the forces loyal to embattled Gaddafi.

In Ras Lanuf, witnesses reported seeing a downed warplane and two dead pilots. The city fell into the hands of the opposition forces after heavy fighting that reportedly left at least eight people dead.

Reports by human rights groups say that over 6,000 people have been killed so far during the government's harsh crackdown on Libyan anti-government protesters.